News, observations and reader questions about the Sacramento Kings and the NBA.

May 28, 2013

With the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approving the controlling share of the Kings to the new ownership group, the process of establishing a new era in Kings basketball figures to take shape quickly.

The sale of the Kings to Vivek Ranadive's ownership group is expected to close by the end of the week. Ranadive might have figured out who he wants to run his team by the time the sale closes.

There are several names being discussed to replace Geoff Petrie. Two prominent names have ties to the Golden State Warriors.

Travis Schlenk is the Warriors assistant general manager/director of player personnel. Ranadive was a minority owner with the Warriors and would be familiar with Schlenk, who has the backing of the Warriors, including Jerry West and general manager Bob Myers.

Schlenk was promoted to assistant general manager in 2011. Schlenk is noted for being a tireless worker that is big on team chemistry and making sure personalities mesh as well as analytics.

A nod to Schlenk, 39, would make the Kings the latest team to go with a young, relatively inexperienced man to run their front office.

Another name being pushed by some close to Ranadive is former Warriors star player and executive Chris Mullin.

Mullin was the executive who brought back Don Nelson to coach in Oakland when the Warriors upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs in 2007.

Mullin was also criticized for some of the big contracts he awarded (Andris Biedrins is still getting paid).

Mullin might bring name recognition to the position as a Hall of Fame player. It also wouldn't hurt that one of Ranadive's minority investors is Mullin's former teammate, Mitch Richmond.

Mike Malone continues to be the prominent name to replace Keith Smart. Smart still has a year on his contract but isn't expected to be retained.